Chapter 21: Revolutionary Changes in the Atlantic World, 1750-1850

1. Chapter 21: Revolutionary Changes in the Atlantic World, 1750-1850

2. Intellectual Challenge to Old Order – hereditary rulers & the church • Hobbes – Social contract, we surrender certain rights to government in exchange for order • Locke – Government duty to protect life/liberty/property, otherwise rebel • Rousseau – Governments operate with the consent of the governed; will of the majority • Montesquieu – Checks and balances and three branches of govt • Voltaire – Freedom of speech and religion • Wollestonecraft – Rights of women • Monarchs and the Enlightenment – enlightened despots – benevolent dictators

3. Prelude to Revolution: The 18th Century Crisis… continued • The Community of Belief Systems • Many channels of communication open – pamphlets, salons, correspondence • Expanding middle class – high literacy rate – coffee & tea houses • Enlightenment and the New World • America = unrestrained by Europe’s corruption would thrive • Benjamin Franklin – writer, inventor, representative, ambassador • The Counter Enlightenment – driven by Catholic nations • Reform and Popular Culture • Tax reforms met with riots and protests – prefer status quo • Meet with popular uprisings

4. The America Revolution, 1775-1800 • Frontiers & Taxes • British Frontier Policy • Westward push seen as future cost of conflict • Ottawa chief Pontiac fought British over policies • Proclamation of 1763 – est. western limits • New Colonial Tax & Commercial Policies – Americans enjoyed foreign trade • Colonial Protests • Stamp Act of 1765 – every document was taxed • Women from prominent colonial families organized boycotts • Reaction to boycotts threatens liberties • Boston “Massacre” – fueled popular support for independence • East India Co monopoly on tea – met with Tea Party, and martial law

5. The America Revolution, 1775-1800… continued • The Course of Revolution, 1775-1783 • Continental Congress • Created a currency, declared independence, and organized an army • George Washington – Virginia planter & veteran of French Indian war • Joseph Brant – Mohawk chief on side of British • British defeat at Saratoga – Mohawk go to Canada, French join American side • Yorktown courtesy of French support • Treaty of Paris – unconditional independence • “Common Sense” – Thomas Paine – made argument for independence • The Construction of Republican Political Structures, to 1800 • Europeans lived vicariously through U.S. – constitutions published in Europe • 2nd Continental Congress = Articles of Confederation • One House legislature • No executive branch • Creating a new Government: Constitutional Convention – 3 branches • Limits of Democracy – still slavery and limited women’s rights

6. The French Revolution, 1789-1815 • French Society and Fiscal Crisis • Estates General – each has one vote • 1st Estate – Church – 10% of land • 2nd Estate – Nobles – 30% of land • 3rd Estate – 98% of Population, 33% of land, tied to economy • 1780 onward – poor harvests (potato had not caught on) • The Poor – 80% of population – increase in bread price = riot

7. The Politics of Debts and Taxes – Louis XVI (& Marie Antoinette) inherit debt but support US • Protest turns to Revolution, 1789-1792 • 3rd Estate Acts • Tennis Court Oath – becomes National Assembly • 33% unemployed and hungry • The Bastille Falls • Fear leads to Bastille and heads on pikes • Great Fear spreads throughout France – not a good time to be rich

8. Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen – similar to US Constitution • The Women of Paris Act – march to Versailles, bring back royals • Revolutionary Changes Begin – Church’s land seized, churches closed, religion outlawed • The Reign of Terror, 1793-1794 • The Jacobins and Girondists (Radicals and moderates) • Jacobins take lead – Guillotine, Terror, Execution of king • Maximilien Robespierre – virtual dictator for approx one year • September Massacres – one way to clean out the prison population • Guillotine – democratic & used on Louis XVI +40,000 • Women & the Revolution – women’s sacrifices go unrewarded • No one is safe from the Guillotine – Robespierre meets his end; too radical

9. Rise of Napoleon • Napoleonic Code: Equality for all; protection of property, etc. • Concordat with Church – churches re-opened, religion legal again • Lycees – public schools for ALL boys; both Napoleon and ppl benefit • Declares himself emperor 1804 – widely popular w/ppl • Napoleon restores stability and pride to France; along with reforms making him widely popular with the ppl – rockstar, pro athlete, hollywood star all in one times 100! “Cult of Personality”

10. Undefeated in Europe 1796 – 1812 • Impact on Napoleon and military • Continental System – unified economic Europe – targeting Britain (attempt to starve Brits into submission); Britain is Napoleon’s obsession • Iberian war – Napoleon never personally commanded French troops; Duke of Wellington beats French again and again; mainly guerilla warfare on part of Iberians • King of Portugal to Brazil • Russian Scorched Earth Policy – loses approx 95% of Army (Charles XII, Hitler) • Defeated at Leipzig (Battle of Nations) - exiled to Elba • Returns to France – defeated at Waterloo (Wellington); exiled to St. Helena (dies 1821)

11. The Haitian Revolution, 1789-1804 – while the cat’s away… • Accounted for 66% of French tropical imports and 33% of French Foreign trade • The Haitian Revolution - colonial government weakened • Rebelling slaves killed & destroyed plantations • Toussaint L’Ouverture takes military leadership; defeats British expeditionary force and next door Spanish • Napoleon sent forces , Toussaint ends up in Prison, eventually Haiti • Yellow Fever and tenacity of rebels defeat French troops • Napoleon decides to end dream of N. American Empire; • sells Louisiana Purchase to US

12. Congress of Vienna & Conservative Retrenchment, 1815-1820 • Balance of Power, restore monarchies, reestablish borders, undo Napoleon’s reforms • The Holy Alliance – Austria/Russia/Prussia • People have tasted democratic reforms; won’t give them up easily • Nationalism, Reform, and Revolution, 1821-1850 • Greek Independence – from Ottomans – w/help of Brits, French and Russians • Revolutionary Fears in France and Britain • The Revolutions of 1848 – Paris/Vienna/Rome/Berlin looking for self-determination; and Napoleonic reforms